Responding to Diversity (and Respecting Differences)

Gr 9 Up—Dispelling the notion that cultural groups are made up of "like people" sharing the same ideas, this program explains how these groups are composed of people who share something—but not everything—such as experiences, lifestyle, physical appearance, interests, religion, behaviors, race, and more. Diversity is referred to as a variety of cultural groups within a particular setting, such as a school community or neighborhood. After introductory definitions, the film is divided into segments that cover types of diversity, stereotypes, responding to diversity, and a review. Many slides and short video clips illustrate examples of cultural groups and communities rich in diversity, making the point that these differences are not always readily apparent. Visible diversity refers to easily identifiable characteristics such as age. Language, religion, cultural norms, and music choice are considered invisible diversity. The segment on stereotypes addresses commonly held beliefs that lead to prejudice and discrimination. A classroom experiment shows a teen making insensitive assumptions about other students based on their race or clothing choices. The lessons about empathetic listening and avoiding "crass curiosity" are the most valuable. Color graphics appear in bold type for definitions and topic review. This solid program can be used with high school students to reinforce the differences between culture and diversity.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia Jr. Sr. High School, NY